Back to Latest NewsAusIndustry’s Regional Manager for Northern and Central NSW, Tim Cotter has announced the establishment of what he described as an exciting new opportunity for the region’s businesses. The Northern Inland Sustainable Business Network (NISBN) aims to provide an unprecedented level of connectivity between local businesses. The network will provide businesses of all styles and sizes access to key Federal and State Government departments and agencies, delivering access to support, resources and potential funding and incentives.
“My role with AusIndustry is to try to find businesses who can access Government assistance or incentives. I am currently looking at a series of programs with funding opportunities totalling $240 million,” Mr. Cotter said. “Trying to cover the New England North West, to find businesses that can access this support has proven to be extremely difficult. So, my intention is to collaborate with other State and Federal agencies to create a central point, where businesses can access the types of funding, grants, resources and the latest sustainability information available to them.”
“The Northern Inland Sustainable Business Network (NISBN) has been formed in order to build a central resource of information for businesses in these trying times. It is about helping them to help themselves become more sustainable operations, both environmentally and financially,” Mr. Cotter said.
With a business network, there is strength in numbers and Mr. Cotter is urging all businesses in the region to join the network, via a membership form at www.nisbn.org.au. To build momentum, membership for the current financial year is completely free for businesses. “This is a network for all businesses, from a small business, a florist, a takeaway shop, right through to manufacturing and larger employer operations, such as abattoirs and health providers.”
The collaborating organisations behind NISBN will host a series of major regional business networking events, seminars and workshops. “We’ll be not only informing but also educating businesses on the importance of sustainable business practices,” he said.
The first NISBN event will be a free business forum from 1pm to 4pm in the Armidale Town Hall, run in conjunction with the Sustainable Living Expo on Friday 25th September. The Sustainable Business Forum will be presented in partnership with AusIndustry, Industry & Investment NSW, the Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water, Country Energy, Regenesis and TAFE NSW - New England Institute. Please register for this event by Friday 18th September here.
“A variety of educational and informative speakers will be giving presentations to local business people about their options for sustainability. The keynote speaker will be founder of VIM Sustainability, Mr. John Brodie, who has been a sustainability consulting and construction professional since the 1970’s. We’ll bring together a wealth of information about the sorts of grants, subsidies and potentially the sorts of off-setting options that Northern Inland NSW businesses may be eligible for,” Mr. Cotter said.
“Through the Northern Inland Sustainable Business Network, we are looking to help businesses to set themselves up as a more sustainable business. So, we want them to look at where they can save on energy costs, save water, and so on. We’re really looking for them to have environmental and economic benefits from NISBN,” he said.
